Kitchen Helper

Clear up the clutter and make the most of your countertops by using a cake stand to hold olive oil, salt, pepper, and other frequently used seasonings. The stand makes it easy to find and use these ingredients while you cook, and gives you space to arrange other herbs and spices around the base of the pedestal.

Tags

Comments (33)

GramercyGal11 Oct, 2009

Yes, this was the tip for last month as well. However, it did remind me that I really liked the idea when I read it last month. So I went ahead and took my lovely cake plate (that I rarely use) and put it up on my spice shelf. It looks gorgeous! Plus I freed up space in my cabinet, can actually see my spices now, and it makes my kitchen shelf look lovely.

Lolival11 Oct, 2009

This was the tip less than a month ago -- Sept 20 to be exact. I realize these tips are free, but let's pay more attention.

About the tip itself, I really don't see that this clears counter space -- at best, it puts several items together in one area.

photophil18 Sep, 2008

I don't see how this clears up clutter, it is still there, just elevated.

elaynemay12 Sep, 2008

I love finlander's lazy susan addition to the idea. At an art

rtcwoman12 Sep, 2008

Part of me says "I love it! Now I have a use for the seldom seen cake stand too!" The other part of me says: "If your goal is to eliminate clutter - then keep the whole shebang behind closed doors on one of those RubberMaid lazy susan's." My counterspace is severely limited and I do keep a lazy susan on the table and have multiple racks/organizers inside the cupboards.

finlander11 Sep, 2008

You can make something similar for less than $5. Go to the Dollar tree (or anywhere really) buy 2 plates, same size or one larger for the bottom and one smaller for the top. Either buy plastic/melamine or ceramic. Buy a 'crystal' aka glass candle stick, epoxy the candle stick to the bottom plate and the small plate. You can then attach a lazy susan to the bottom plate (which will up the price past the $5 range but worth it) Candle stick can be any size, short or med length.

Schmooter11 Sep, 2008

AndreaAndrea: If you have a TJ Maxx, Ross or Marshalls near you - you might want to check there. I found a nice white cake stand at Marshalls last year and it was only $12. Good Luck!

basketlou11 Sep, 2008

what a great idea...already using the idea...thanks

bjhinokcok11 Sep, 2008

I have been doing this for awhile actually. I have all of my coffee fixin's on a milk glass cake plate, next to my coffee maker/espresso maker. CUTE!

bjhinokcok11 Sep, 2008

p.s. for about 10USD

bjhinokcok11 Sep, 2008

I saw cake stands with lids, clear glass....Bed Bath and Beyond....

NancyMcManus11 Sep, 2008

I love this one, too. So simple.

Anna_Marie11 Sep, 2008

Things that near to my sink and stove seem to require much more cleaning than anywhere else in the kitchen....not sure if the trade-off of convenience would work for me.

AndreaAndrea11 Sep, 2008

Mamaid, "OH!!! Excellent idea." I only seem to remember thrift stores when some ones need a costume. THANK YOU!

LMDC11 Sep, 2008

well I am for adding the lazy susan to the bottom- attach the cake standbase to a plate at least the size of the cake plate part - and then the entire thing can spin and you have extra storage.

mamaid11 Sep, 2008

To AndreaAndrea:

I found a beautiful, green glass cake stand at the thrift store. This is where I always find beautiful little gems very cheaply.

1bunni4me11 Sep, 2008

I have done this for years but instead I have a commercial stainless steel pizza stand at the corner of my built-in countertop stove. The pizza stand looks just like this and I got it at a restaurant auction for a few dollars. All my spices, etc. are right there, easy to clean and takes up a few inches at bottom. If I needed it I could unload, wash and serve from it, too.

Theanna11 Sep, 2008

sounds good to me, always wanted to get it out of my cupboard and provide more space for something else.

megans_gram11 Sep, 2008

Better yet, put the cake stand on a turntable

pilgrimgirl11 Sep, 2008

I would have never thought of this. Love the idea and gives a wonderful second use for a cake stand.

shibasity11 Sep, 2008

I've been looking for the cute canisters that are below the cake stand at Macy's. My macy's had a display...but wouldn't sell the display? Are the ceramic canisters still sold?

lmcaldwell7211 Sep, 2008

I have done this for a couple of years, and I couldn't live without it. I have kosher salt, sea salt, a pepper grinder, olive oil and balsamic vinegar on mine, with my butter crock stored underneath. It is so handy to have everything out right where I need it.

TalleySue_Hohlfeld11 Sep, 2008

Cake stands are a great way to do "double deck." I should consider something like this for my crowded nightstand, w/ all the stuff that needs to be right next to the bed.

cherylgreen11 Sep, 2008

AndreaAndrea----You could glue a glass the height you like to the bottom of a plate. this could be extremely inexpensive since the items you would need could possibly be in your cupboard. I am going to try this idea myself.

cherylgreen11 Sep, 2008

AndreaAndrea, I am thinking a pretty plate and a glass glued on the bottom of it would work. It would be extremely inexpensive (chances are there is one in the cabinet).

ivahays11 Sep, 2008

Adding a lazy susan on top (put rubber gripper under to keep from sliding) also adds to easy access to picking out items needed.

cherylgreen11 Sep, 2008

Perfect

AndreaAndrea11 Sep, 2008

This could work for me. Love the idea. The cake stand in thie picture looks to be higher than avaerage, whick is good. Ideas where to get an inexpesiveone? Say $10.

MidnightB11 Sep, 2008

That's a great way to use a pretty cake stand instead of it being up in the cabinet

mahze11 Sep, 2008

I have been using this idea for about a year - started because I needed to find a place to put my cake stand when I wasn't using it. Mine has a metal base and to that turns. I think it's actually more for decorating cakes than just display purposes. Works wonderfully well and easy to wipe clean.

misstori195811 Sep, 2008

What a great idea! I have small cupboard space and this will alleviate some of those space issues.